When we first wrote about the US Postal Service’s plan to put an end to Saturday deliveries, only 35% of the 7,000 readers polled thought it would be a hassle to their way of life. However, many commenters wanted to know what this would mean for deliveries of their precious Netflix DVDs. Yesterday, they got their answer. [More]
Why Won't USPS Let Me File This Complaint?
By March 30, 2010
Usually when we reprint a customer complaint, it’s because the complaint itself deserves public attention. But the reason we’re posting Consumerist reader Sarah’s letter to the USPS isn’t because the world needs to know about her smashed up shipment, but because the USPS’ website won’t let her file the complaint. [More]
USPS Suggests Cutting Saturday Delivery And Increasing Rates
By March 2, 2010
The United States Postal Service is continuing its long slide into suckage according to a new report delivered by Postmaster General John E. Potter this morning. People sent far less mail last year (“more than double any previous decline,” says the Washington Post) and labor costs continue to rise, which helped the USPS lose $3.8 billion in 2009. [More]
We Hope Your Mail Isn't On This Postal Truck
By February 8, 2010
…Because that sh*t is stuck. A Gothamist reader took this photo of a postal truck stuck at a crazy angle under an overpass on 10th ave in NYC. Whoopsies! [More]
PayPal Abandons Another Scammed Seller
By December 8, 2009
Todd got ripped off by a scammer on an eBay purchase. He made sure to insure the device before shipping it off via the United States Postal Service, but it turns out that an insurance claim won’t help him get PayPal to step up. [More]
U.S. Postal Service Tests Post Office Greeting Card Sales
By October 29, 2009
One of the few things that people still use the U.S. Postal Service to do is send greeting cards. Americans receive an average of 20 greeting cards per year, and they have to come from somewhere. So why not save a trip and buy those cards right at your local post office?
USPS: No Stamp Price Increases In 2010
By October 17, 2009
You can rest easy and stock up on booklets of Simpsons stamps instead of boring old Forever stamps. The United States Postal Service assures us that it is not planning any stamp price increases in 2010.
US Postal Service Redefines "Contiguous" United States
By October 2, 2009
Steve was mailing some packages from his home in Virgina to various points in the country, and noticed something strange on his receipt. The packages destined for Pennsylvania and Washington state are leaving the contiguous United States. What?
UPDATE: USPS Agrees To Pay Insurance Claim On Lost Laptops
By May 8, 2009
After our story about USPS losing a reader’s five insured computers then only valuing them at $74 generated a lot of response (and turned into a vowel-less debate on health care), a couple readers sent us the contact info for the insurance agent who denied our reader’s request.
USPS: Your Five New, Insured Laptops That We Lost Are Worth $74
By May 7, 2009
The US Postal Service lost five new Lenovo laptops that Pedro’s friend bought and shipped to him. Pedro expected that this might happen, so he wisely insured the package for $3,000. After stalling for about two months, USPS finally agreed to pay his insurance claim, but reduced the payment, claiming his merchandise was only worth $74.
GameFly Accuses US Postal Service Of Breaking, Losing, And Stealing Its Game Discs
By May 6, 2009
Late last year we pointed out that GameFly, a Netflix-style program for video games, was beginning to develop a reputation for rotten service and slow turnaround. It looks like the United States Postal Service may be partly to blame, at least as far as GameFly is concerned. They’ve filed a complaint against the USPS over lost, stolen, and damaged discs, as well as discriminatory treatment when compared to Netflix and Blockbuster.
USPS Wants To Cut Back To Five-Day Work Week
By January 30, 2009
A $3 billion deficit and expected losses of $6 billion more have led the Postmaster General to suggest cutting mail delivery from six to five days.
Woot! Replaces Shirt Stolen By The U.S. Post Office
By January 23, 2009
Two weeks ago I wrote that Woot! hadn’t replaced a shirt stolen by the U.S. Post Office. Well, I was wrong. Unbeknownst to me, Woot! shipped out a brand new replacement shirt, just as I had requested.
Overnight Shipping Battle! FedEx Vs. USPS Vs. UPS
By October 31, 2008
In the battle of the overnight shipping, which service reigns supreme? Is it FedEx? Or UPS and its long-haired whiteboard dude? Or the folks in blue at the Postal Service?
FedEx Turns Shipment Of DVDs Into Can Of Old House Paint
By August 4, 2008
John at Needcoffee.com writes that he’s come to expect the occasional “damaged in transit” theft of items from packages he ships or receives, at least through the U.S Postal Service. With private carriers, however, he notes that he’s always had better luck. But last week he opened a box of DVDs shipped to him via FedEx to discover a rusty can of $5 house paint.
Comcast Won't Stop Sending You Junk Mail Because "You Might Move"
By July 3, 2008
UPDATE: Comcast has now removed Brad from its mailing lists for really reals.
Don't Reuse That USPS Priority Box, It's Illegal
By May 1, 2008
7 News in Denver reports that a Colorado man has been officially warned that reusing a United States Postal Service “Priority Mail” cardboard box is a violation of federal law. We’re not even talking about mail fraud but simply reusing them for other types of shipping. Could reusing these boxes actually be a federal crime? Find out more about this outlaw…
"Do Not Mail" Junk Mail Registry Called For By Green Group
By March 13, 2008
ForestEthics has started a petition to enact a Do Not Mail registry, similar to the one that’s sort of in effect (when marketers choose to abide by it) for telemarketing. Their reasoning: junk mail is enormously wasteful and damaging to the environment. We agree, but we’re in favor of the registry for the simple reason that less junk mail means fewer uninvited distractions, ID theft risks, and trash we’d have to deal with every day.
